WTF soap opera writers?

[xie_xie_xie]

Ummm, I don't watch the show so I have no idea if this makes some kind of sense I'm missing, but someone just told me they are killing off one of the gay characters on As the World Turns just as it goes off the air?

Is this true? Is there some way in which that's not just a load of homophobic cliched crap?

Comments

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

Well, since same-sex couples have been perennially cheated out of a happy ending, and there is a lengthy history of gay characters dying in film, TV, and literature, I'd say that regardless of whether they meant this just to be a typical soapy ending or not, you can't examine that decision or intent outside of the greater context. So whether it's intentional or ignorant, it's still homophobic.

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

Great points, Xie. For me, since so many of my soap couples have been cheated out of happy endings for various idiotic story choices I guess I've been thinking about it in pure soap context, and have been utterly miserable over that. I've seen couples I've watched for many years end up alone, one having died some utterly pointless tragic death, so that's where my focus has been. But, the context you bring up does make me consider this whole other aspect that I just hadn't come to on my own.

I especially appreciate your point as to wether it is intentional or not, it is still homophobic.

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still thinking about your comments today, so thanks for making me truly think about this.

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you for letting me know!